Wish You Were Here
PORTUGAL: Los Altos residents Mary Fran Miller and Fred Linker celebrated the end of their grand cycling tour in the Alentejo and Algarve regions of Portugal last fall. “It was great riding on quiet country roads alongside fields of cork trees, vineyards, and olive and orange groves,” Mary Fran says. “Trip highlights included walking in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Evora, and exploring the charming hilltop village of Monsaraz and the riverside town of Mertola in the Guadiana Valley Natural Park area that borders Spain.”
TRAVEL TIPS: “Avoid the summer heat and coastal crowds — plan a spring or autumn trip. Besides packing walking shoes with good tread to explore hilly cobblestone streets and castle ruins, you may want to take lightweight foldable hiking poles for added stability. TAP airlines has a direct flight from San Francisco to Lisbon, and allows up to a five-day layover in Lisbon en route to their other international destinations.”
NEPAL: Cupertino resident Adrienne Harber achieved the “highest goal on my bucket list” — literally — on a trek to Mount Everest Base Camp at 17,598feet. She visited sites in Kathmandu, including the Monkey Temple (Swayambhunath), and Patan, where she saw Durbar Square. “But the highlight was hiking in the Himalayas, the highest mountains in the world. I was in awe. The lodges we stayed in were simple, with stoves heated by yak dung in the dining areas and toilets down the hall.”
TRAVEL TIPS: “The higher we trekked, the more things cost. Be prepared to pay $4for a roll of toilet paper, $5 for a Snickers bar! But remember how much effort it took to get those items to the higher villages.”
TANZANIA: Lafayette residents Bill and Margret Espey visited Tarangire National Park in November. “Tanzania is a wonderful place to explore the wonders of Eastern Africa and see many amazing animals, from crocodiles to wildebeests (and) hundreds of exotic bird species,” Bill says. “Make some time to get to know the people too. There are many comfortable accommodations, even in the vast national parks.”
TRAVEL TIPS: “Professional local assistance is essential. It simply isn’t possible to go there and travel around on your own. There are no roads in much of the country, and those that do exist are unmarked rough dirt tracks, even in the cities.”